Colocasia plant named &#39;Aloha&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Colocasia plant named ‘Aloha’ that is characterized by large glossy sagittate leaves which emerge dark olive-green in color and rapidly become dark purple-black in color. The under surfaces of the leaves of ‘Aloha’ exhibit prominent raised veining which is contrasting light green in color. ‘Aloha’ produces numerous closely-attached basal shoots such that mature plants of ‘Aloha’ are dense in overall habit.

Genus and species: Colocasia escuelenta.

Variety denomination: ‘Aloha’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Colocasia commonly known as the taro plant or elephant ears. Colocasia is grown as a food crop or for use as an ornamental plant for planting in containers or in the landscape. The new variety is known botanically as Colocasia esculenta and will be referred to hereinafter by the variety name ‘Aloha’.

Colocasia is a tuberous rooted perennial which is native to tropical Asia and Polynesia. It grows to 1.5 m to 2 m in height from starchy tubers. The leaves of Colocasia are heart-shaped and very large in size. The tuberous roots are cooked and eaten as a starchy staple in many tropical areas. Colocasia are also grown as an ornamental plant for the landscape in warmer climates or as a container plant in colder areas.

The new Colocasia variety named ‘Aloha’ is the product of a long-term breeding program carried out by the inventor in a cultivated area in Kula, Hi. The purpose of the breeding program is to develop new commercial varieties by combining attributes of plant vigor with novel leaf coloration and color combinations, and leaf texture.

‘Aloha’ arose and was selected by the inventor as a seedling selection from the controlled pollination between the female parent variety Colocasia ‘Maui Gold’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,482) and male parent variety Colocasia ‘Coal Miner’ (unpatented).

‘Aloha’ was selected for its large glossy leaves which emerge dark olive-green in color, and whose upper surfaces rapidly become almost entirely purple-black in color, and whose lower surfaces become dark purple-black between the veins and away from the margins. The inventor also observed that ‘Aloha’ produces numerous closely-attached clumping shoots and petioles such that the whole plant is exceptionally dense in its overall appearance.

The most commonly employed means of asexual propagation of the genus Colocasia is the excision and replanting of a shoot which consists of the apical 1 cm to 2 cm portion of the plant corm with the attached basal 15 cm to 20 cm portion of the petiole. In regions of the world where Colocasia is grown, this plant shoot is known as a “huli”, and the means of propagation is known as “huli propagation”. The first asexual propagation of ‘Aloha’ was carried out by the inventor in Kula, Hi. in 2010 using this method of “huli propagation”. Subsequent asexual reproductions by huli propagation and by tissue culture have confirmed to the inventor ‘Aloha’ is stable, uniform, and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Colocasia variety named ‘Aloha’. ‘Aloha’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype:

-   -   1. ‘Aloha’ bears large glossy sagittate leaves.     -   2. The leaves of ‘Aloha’ emerge dark olive-green in color.     -   3. Except for the veins and midrib, the upper surfaces of the         leaves of ‘Aloha’ rapidly become dark purple-black in color,         with maturity.     -   4. The under surfaces of the leaves of ‘Aloha’ retain their dark         olive green color towards the leaf margins and become dark         purple-black in color towards and between the midrib and veins.     -   5. The under surfaces of the leaves of ‘Aloha’ exhibit prominent         raised veining which is light green in color.     -   6. ‘Aloha’ produces numerous closely-attached basal shoots such         that mature plants of ‘Aloha’ are dense in overall habit.     -   7. At maturity, plants of ‘Aloha’ are between 1.1 meter and 1.25         meters in height, and 0.9 meter to 1.0 meter in width.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of ‘Aloha’ showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety ‘Aloha’.

Photographs were made from plants which were approximately 12-months-old from a tissue culture division and which were grown outdoors. No growth regulators were applied.

FIG. 1 shows an in-ground planting of 4 plants of ‘Aloha’.

FIG. 2 shows the prominent contrasting light green veins on the underside of the leaves of ‘Aloha’.

FIG. 3 shows the vigorous basal branching and clumping habit of ‘Aloha’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the new Colocasia plant named ‘Aloha’. Data were collected from a plant which was 12-months-old from a tissue culture division and grown outdoors in Oxnard, Calif. The color determinations are in accordance with the 2007edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The growing requirements are similar to other Colocasia.

-   Botanical classification:     -   -   Genus.—Colocasia.         -   Species.—esculenta.         -   Denomination.—‘Aloha’.         -   Common name.—Taro or elephant ears. -   Plant:     -   -   Plant use.—Container or landscape plant.         -   Cultural requirements.—Cultural requirements are well             draining soil or growing media, full sun to partial shade.         -   Tuberous roots.—System type: Tuberous. Dimensions: 18 cm to             20 cm in length, 8 cm to 10 cm in diameter. Color: 155B.         -   Plant vigor.—Vigorous, prolific basal shoot production.         -   Plant growth habit.—Upright, non-spreading.         -   Plant growth rate and crop time.—A one-gallon container             plant grown at 18° C. to 20° C. may be produced in 12 to 16             weeks from a 4 cm cell transplant.         -   Plant description.—A newly-propagated plant of ‘Aloha’             consists of an excised huli or stem which bears 2-3 petioles             and early leaves. As the newly propagated plant is inserted             into the soil or growing medium, that plant will produce its             own corm, or “mother corm”, which in turn will produce new             lateral shoots and new basally-attached corms or “cormels”.             These basal cormels give rise to daughter plants. Daughter             plants begin to appear above soil level about 2 to 3 months             after planting of the mother plant.         -   Plant dimensions.—110 cm to 125 cm in height and 90 cm to             100 cm in width.         -   Plant hardiness.—USDA Zone 7b.         -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished by huli propagation             and by tissue culture.         -   Time to develop daughter plants.—Appear above soil around 2             to 3 months after planting.         -   Pest or disease susceptibility and resistance.—‘Aloha’ has             not been found to be more or less susceptible to disease or             pests than other cultivars of the genus. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Colocasia ‘Maui Gold’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.             24,482).         -   Male parent.—Colocasia ‘Coal Miner’ (Unpatented). -   Foliage:     -   -   Number.—A one-year old plant of ‘Aloha’ bears functional 25             to 40 leaves at one time; new leaves appear rapidly, around             every 2 to 3 days, due to the profusion of new basal shoots.         -   Petioles.—Length: 75 cm to 90 cm. Width: 8 mm (just below             leaf attachment) increasing to 20 mm to 25 mm at the base             where attached to corm or cormel. Color: Ranges between             N144D and 144C. Sap color: Colorless.         -   Leaf.—Dimensions at maturity: 30 cm to 35 cm in length and             18 cm to 22 cm in width. Average leaf sinus depth: 8 cm to             10 cm. Attitude: Oblique. Aspect: Erect with apex down. Leaf             generally slightly folded or cupped. Shape: Sagittate.             Margins: Entire, slightly undulating. Apex: Acute. Base:             Peltate. Attachment: Petiolate with characteristic tissue             formed at junction of leaf blade with the upper termination             of the petiole. This area of the leaf tissue is also known             as the “piko” and is evident by virtue of its upper surface             color being similar to the color of the petiole and             contrasting with the leaf color. The principal veins radiate             from the piko. Piko color: N144D. Leaf sheath: Open.             Texture: Glossy (both surfaces). Leaf color (adaxial             surface): Commences 138A as leaf initially unfurls, rapidly             becoming dark purple-black ranging between N92A and N186A.             Leaf color (abaxial surface): 138A initially and remaining             138A towards margins; elsewhere (constituting approximately             half to two-thirds of the abaxial surface), becoming N92A to             N186A. Venation: Palmate. Veins: 5 principal veins radiate             from the piko: one midrib extending from the piko to the             leaf apex, one pair of veins extending laterally towards the             widest points of the leaf, and one pair extending towards             each of the basal lobe margins. 7 to 8 pairs of secondary             veins. Vein color (adaxial surface): Midrib lightest in             color, N144C; lateral veins darker, ranging between 147A to             N186A. Vein color (abaxial surface): N144A to 144C. Vein             prominence (adaxial surface): Slightly depressed. Vein             prominence (adaxial surface): Prominently raised,             approximately 2 mm in height and 3 mm to 4 mm in width. -   Inflorescence, flowers and reproductive organs:     -   -   Inflorescence.—Arises from the leaf axils. The inflorescence             consists of a short peduncle, a spadix, and spathe.         -   Peduncle.—Dimensions: 18 cm to 28 cm in length, 0.4 cm to             0.65 cm in width. Shape (cross-section): Triangular. Color:             145C. Surface: smooth.         -   Spadix (botanically a spike).—Arrangement: Fleshy central             axis to which small sessile flowers are attached.             Dimensions: 9.5 cm to 10 cm in length. Flowers: Female             flowers at the base, male flowers towards the tip, and             sterile flowers in between. The extreme tip or appendage of             the spadix has no flowers at all.         -   Spathe.—Appears as large yellowish bract which sheathes the             spadix. Dimensions: 19.5 cm to 21.5 cm in length. Lower             section of spathe: Color, light-green, 145C, and wraps             tightly around the spadix and completely occludes the female             flowers from view. Upper section of spathe: Color, yellow,             13B, and rolled inward at the apex, but remaining open on             one side to reveal the male flowers on the spadix. Central             section of spathe: Narrow neck, corresponding to the region             of the sterile flowers on the spadix.         -   Seed.—Seed is not produced naturally since male and female             flowers within each inflorescence do not mature at the same             time. Pollination can be achieved manually or in nature,             only with the presence of small insect pollinators which are             found in regions of genetic origin of the species, and not             Hawaii.

COMPARISON TO PARENTAL LINES AND COMMERCIAL VARIETY

When ‘Aloha’ is compared to the female parent, Colocasia ‘Maui Gold’, ‘Maui Gold’ bears chartreuse-golden glossy leaves on petioles which range in color from white to light yellow to light burgundy, while the leaves of ‘Aloha’ are dark olive-green then purple-black in color and borne on uniformly light green petioles. In addition, the area of attachment (known as the piko) of the petioles to the leaves of ‘Maui Gold’ is burgundy in color, whereas the piko of ‘Aloha’ is light green in color.

When ‘Aloha’ is compared to the male parent, Colocasia ‘Coal Miner’, ‘Coal Minder’ bears similarly dark purple-black leaves, the surfaces of the leaves of ‘Coal Miner’ are matte in texture, while the leaves of ‘Aloha’ are glossy. In addition, whereas ‘Aloha’ produces numerous basal shoots and remains highly clumping in habit, the new shoots of ‘Coal Miner’ are attached to the mother plant by stolons such that plants of ‘Coal Miner’ have an open, non-clumping, habit. In addition, the mature height of ‘Coal Miner’ ranges between 1.5 meters and 1.75 meters, whereas the mature height of ‘Aloha’ ranges between 1.1 meters and 1.25 meters.

The closest comparison variety in commerce known to the inventor is Colocasia ‘Coal Miner’ which is compared with ‘Aloha’ above. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Colocasia plant named ‘Aloha’ as illustrated and described herein. 